Resetting the Urban Network: 117-2012

Guy Michaels and Ferdinand Rauch

No 9760, CEPR Discussion Papers from C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers

Abstract: Do locational fundamentals such as coastlines and rivers determine town locations, or can historical events trap towns in unfavorable locations for centuries? We examine the effects on town locations of the collapse of the Western Roman Empire, which temporarily ended urbanization in Britain, but not in France. As urbanization recovered, medieval towns were more often found in Roman-era town locations in France than in Britain, and this difference still persists today. The resetting of Britain's urban network gave it better access to naturally navigable waterways when this was important, while many French towns remained without such access.

Keywords: Economic geography; Economic history; Path dependence; Transportation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: N93 O18 R11 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013-11
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-geo, nep-gro, nep-his and nep-ure
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (29)

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Related works:
Working Paper: Resetting the urban network: 117-2012 (2017)
Working Paper: Resetting the Urban Network 117-2012 (2015)
Working Paper: Resetting the Urban Network: 117-2012 (2013)
Working Paper: Resetting the Urban Network: 117-2012 (2013)
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